San Buenaventura

Saint Bonaventure, a 13th century Franciscan cardinal and renowned philosopher.

Also Called:

Founding Father President:

Fr. Junipero Serra

Founding Missionaries:

Frs. Vincente de Santa María and Francisco Dymetz

Prominent Missionary Leaders:

Indians Joining This Mission:

San Buenaventura was located in the land of the Chumash people. After the establishment of the mission the neophytes were known as Ventureño

Mission Site:

The mission was located near the sizeable Indian village of Mitsquanaqa'n with about 500 inhabitants. San Beuenaventura is 70 miles north of Los Angeles in the city of Ventura, which developed around the mission.

Layout:

Traditional quadrange, which was still standing as late as 1875.

Water Source:

A seven-mile-long earth and masonry zanja or aqueduct brought water from the Ventura River.

Population:

The peak years for this mission were 1802-1821. The highest recorded population was 1,328 in 1816. During the mission era there were 1,107 marriages performed at San Buenaventura.

Livestock:

In 1816 (the peak year) the mission had over 41,000 animals including 23,400 cattle, 12,144 sheep and 4,493 horses (one of the largest stables of horses in the mission chain.)

The first church was destroyed by fire in 1793. The second church was dedicated in 1809, and reconstructed in 1816 after an earthquake. The walls are six foot thick near the base. The church had to be restored after it was "modernized" in 1893. Restoration was completed in 1957

Mission Bells:

A three-tiered companario contains five bells originally borrowed from Mission Santa Barbara. The two oldest bells date from 1781. The bell on the upper level is the newest. It was cast in 1956 in Paris.

Mission Art:

The high altar and its reredos orginated in Mexico and were installed when the church was dedicated in 1809. The Shrine of the Crucifixion on the left side of the church contains a four hundred-year old bulto.

Special Attraction:

Vhere is a well-landscaped garden with a fountain, stone grotto, and exterior displays on the east side of the church. The inviting mission buseum (built in 1929) contains the original church doors and two original wooden bells, which were used during Holy Week when the metal bells were silent..

Significant Event(s):

Althoughthe mission was evacuated for a month in 1818 because of the threat of a pirate attack by the Argentine privateer Hypolite Bouchard, the mission was nonetheless spared.

Secularized:

in 1836

Year Returned to Catholic Church:

1862, in a proclamation signed by Abraham Lincoln.

Current Status:

Active Roman Catholic Church of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.

Responsibility:

Interesting Facts:

San Buenaventura was intended to be the 3rd mission, but its founding was postponed for thirteen years, and so it became the 9th mission established.

In the mission era whaling ships anchored near the mission to replenish their food lockers and trade for cured cattle hides (called Yankee Dollars).

Captain George Vancouver met Fr. Dumetz at the mission in 1793 and named Point Dume, between Point Magu and Malibu, after the friar.